Duplicating machine



March 28, 1944. FORD 2,345,335.

DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VINTOQ BY WM, ATTORNI).

March 28, 1944. R FORD 2,345,335

DUPLICATING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 iNvam-on, 99%

March 28, 1944. F. R. FORD DUPLICATING MACHINE 4 SheetsSheet 3 Filed July 25, 1942 m =M m F ATTORNEY.

March 28, 1944.

F. R. FORD DIUPLICATINQMACHINE Filed July 25, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR yum... @wu

4 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 28, 1944 DUPLICATING MAGHIN E Frank Ronald Ford, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, England Application July 25, 1942, Serial No.- 452,216- In Great Britain May 20, 1941 9 Claims.

This invention relates to duplicating machines of the kind wherein a master sheet having the matter to be reproduced in reverse is mounted on a cylinder with which co-oioerates a pressure roller, and wherein the copy sheets are fed 'between the master on the cylinder and the pressure roller and are moistened by means of a moistening pad before being brought into Contact with the master sheet.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide for more uniform moistening of the copy sheet over the length of the sheet.

Machines of the kind referred to are known wherein the moistening device is movable and has an automatic oscillating motion. In such machines there is an impacteifect when the mois tening device is brought in-to contact with the copy sheet, and due tothe momentum of the moving parts, there isa tendency to impart too much moisture to the leading part of the copy sheet.

Machines of the kind referred to are also known wherein the moistening device is stationary and wherein the copy sheet is lightly pressed on to the surface of the stationary 'moistener before passing to the cylinder. In suchmachines, however, the copy sheet is moistened on the underside and it has therefore been necessary hitherto tomake such machines with the pressure roller above the cylinder, the actual reproduction on the copy sheet taking pla'ceon the underside thereof, and therefore not-being visible to the operator.

Further, in such machines, unless said means are provided, the copy sheets are delivered face downwards. r I

A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine which will have the advantages of a stationary moistener. and wherein-the copy sheets will be moistened on theupperside and reproduction will take place on the upper side of the copy sheets, and the copy sheets will be delivered from the machine without any special provisions face upwards.

A further object ofthe present invention is to provide for more uniform moistenin-g across the Width of the copy sheet.

In duplicating machines ofthe kind referred to, moistening :devices are known wherein the liq-- uid is conveyed to an elongated. moistening pa'dby means of a wick extending'along the length of the pad and in contact with-one Side thereof the endsof the wick extending into the moiste ing liquid in a tank. With this arrangement there is a strong tendencyfor the centre part of the inoisteningpad to be starved of liquid,- and the end parts-thereof to receive too much-moistening liquid.

The present invention seeksto provideineans to cure this defect. r g

Further, inmachines of the kind to which this invention relates, during working a; part-of the surface of the moistening pad-"is necessarily ex-- posed, and when working is -imerrupted if this surface is left exposed. evaporation of the moistening liquid takes-place at such surface rapidly so that the moistening liquid, which is volatile, is wasted to a serious extent.

Referring tothe' drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view in end elevation showing one'form of construction in accordance with this invention.

- Figure 2-is aplan view.

Figure 3 is a sectional view in" end elevation showing a modified form'of the'invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 3.

. Figure 5- is a sectional viewin end elevation upon an enlarged scale showing the moistener and the feed table used in the construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in the Working position.

-Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure '3 but showing the feed table in the position inwhic h it covers the normally exposed part of the moistening pad. I

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing thes'eparate parts of the moistener used in the" construction shown in Figs. 3 to 6.

Figure 8 is a perspective View showings, further modification.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the construction shown in Figure 8.

In the construction illustrated in Figures" 1 and 2, the machine comprises two side' plate s 10 placed vertically in spaced relationship and held together by hor-i2onally extending ti'erods l1.

The cylinder i2 is provided with a spindle: l3 which is supported in bearings carried'by the side plates, the cylinder being placed horizontally and extending between theiiupperparts of the side-plates. Fixed in a 'determinedposition at one end or atboth'ends .of the cylinder'is'a separate portion" I4- of considerably reduced diameter in which thereis-a notch i5-,;and a spring actuated plunger [6 engages -th-is= notch once diu'ing every revolutionofthecylinder so asto check the rotation thereof at a definite position which is the feed-in position for the copy sheets. a 1

The cylinder [2' is further provided tvith;

ening pad.

i2 means, such as a hinged or radially sliding plate or member, arranged longitudinally on its circumference for gripping the leading edge of the on the cylinder operate, at the feed-in position,

to move the levers I8 downwardly so as to Withdraw the bar or roller from the moistening,

member and to leave a gap through which the leading ends of the copy sheets can be fed into the bite of the cylinder l2 and pressure roller 23.

The pressure roller 23. is arranged on a horizontal axis and is preferably of smaller diameter than the cylinder. It is arranged below the cylinder although not necessarily directly below the axis thereof. The pressure roller may be, as shown, placed somewhat nearer thefeed-in side of the machine than is the axis of the cylinder.

The pressure roller 23 is provided with a spindle or withtrunnions 24 at its ends which are mounted in bearing blocks mounted for vertical sliding movement in guides provided on the side plates of the frame and the bearing blocks are supported by means of springs, the pressure f h m ad s e Q .7 a

The moistening member is in the form of a liquid container 25 provided with one or more wicks 25 extending upwardly from the liquid,

thereby. taking liquid from the container by capillary, ,acti onand over the edge of a dividing plate 21, and then downwardly to an absorbent moistening pad 2|. with tw laterallyextending flanges at its ends which slide into"slots, one of which can be seen at'39,.these 'slots'being provided in the inner surfaces of'the side'platesj The container is locked in position by a locking screw '40 extending through one of the side plates and bearing on the edge'of'one of the lateral projections of the container. As will be seen from Figure 1, 'on the left-hand side of the dividing plate 21 is the container for liquid, while the space between the dividing 'plaite 21 and the right hand .side of the container forms a chamber for'the part of the wick extending from the container to. the moist- Inimediatelyabove the'wicks and the'edge'of, the dividing plate 2'Iis placed a bar 28 which is' movablelvertically by inean's of thumb screw's'29 the foutside 1. bf the container top 3'0. when these screws, 29" are tightened, the bar 23' compresses the wicks'f'against the -edgev of the dividing'platelthereby acting as a fiuidcontrol. The

moistening pad, 2 be, constructed in the well knownl ner andis mounted in a sheet metal container .3 I' enga ging its upper and lower sidesla rid it sedg es, but leaving a portion of its lower sid exposed. Q exposed portion of the moistening padZis di sp sed as near 'to the line of contact between the cylinder I2 and the prese sure roller 23: as possible, and of course the bar,

20 (oriroller) whichis employed to press thei' copy sheets upwardlypn to the exposed part: of themoistening pad, is situated directly below th B PQSQQ. Pa -Mill qistenins pad.

The container 25 is provided.

The levers which carry the bar or roller 20 for pressing the copy sheets against the pad are provided with rollers 32 which are acted upon by the cams I'I associated with the cylinder, the cams moving the levers so as to bring the bar or roller 20 for pressing the copy sheets, away from the moistening pad at the feed-in position. Each of these levers I8 is provided with a plate 33 which is slotted, and through this slot extends a vertically disposed pin 34 which is mounted in a stud 9 secured to the side plate. Each of these pins is provided with an adjustable abutment 35 between which and the underside of the lever operates a spring 22. The pressure of these springs is individually adjustable. I

The levers I8 are provided with upwardly extending brackets 31. carrying at their ends the ends of the spindle on which the roller is mounted, or carrying the ends of the bar 29.

The feed table 38 is arranged horizontally or in an inclined position, and in either case a portion 36 situated at its delivery edge is inclined upwardly so as to deflect the copy sheets onto the exposed portion of the underside of the moistening pad.

In Figures 3 to 9 of the drawings, the invention is shown applied to a machine wherein the pressure roller 23 is situated below the cylinder H2 upon which the master sheet is clamped by any suitable form of clamp operated by a lever H2 pivoted at M3 on the end of the cylinder.

The spindle I3 of the cylinder is supported in spaced side plates In which are held in spaced and parallel relationship by tiebolts I I.

As, is known in this type of machine a check device is provided for checking the rotation of the.

cylinder at a particular position during each rotation. This check ,device comprises a roller I5 carried in a fork I90 attached to an arm I20 piv-z oted at I9I to the side plate Ill. The fork I90 has a shank H8 engaging a support II on the side plate I0 and acted upon by a spring H9 which operates between a nut I93 and a collar I94 through which the shank II8 can slide. This roller entersa notch I5 in a flange I4 formed or attached to the cylinder.

The pressure roller 23 has a spindle 24 mounted in bearings in the known way, and this pressure roller is pressed towards the cylinder by means of springs I24 which operate upon the said bear: ing blocks. The pressure of the springs I24 may be adjustable, and the pressure roller 23 may be moved away from the cylinder by levers, I25.

In this machine the copy papers are passed between the cylinder and the pressure roller, and

itis necessary to moisten their upper sides before they do so. For thispurpose a moistener I26is provided, the copy sheets being fed to the moistener over a feed table 3 8. As the copy sheets leave the feed table, they are pressed against the underside of the moistening pad ,I5| by means of a pressure bar or roller 20. ;This,pressure bar or roller is carried by a pair of levers. l8 pivoted at I9 to the frame, the levers I8 being provided with extensions 33 which are actedoupon. by springs 22 mounted upon pins 34 carried by studs 9 attached to the side plates III. a

The springs 22 press the levers I8 upwardly'so that the pressure bar or roller 20 presses the copy sheets. into contactwith the underside .of Y the moistening pad 2|.

The levers I8, however, are, once each revolu.-.

' tion of the cylinder, swung downwardly by means ers 32 connected by arms I38 to the levers I8. When the cams are in their operative positions, the pressure bar or roller 20 is moved away from the moistener I5I so as to provide an opening through which the copy sheet can be fed to the line of contact between the pressure roller 23 and-the cylinder I2. It is in this position that the check device I6 checks the motion of the cylinder. After the cams I1 have left the rollers 32, the levers I8 swing upwardly so that the bar or roller 20 applies pressure to the copy sheet.

The moistener I26 is shown-in detail in Figures 5, 6 and 7, and comprises a tank-I39 having a filler opening closed by a cap I46. At'two of these corners and at the upper side the tank is provided with openings I4I. Secured tothe upper surface of the tank at each end are tubes 1 42 each having I a horizontal portion and an inclined portion 143..

Mounted on the upper ends of the inclined po'rtions I43: is a carrier plate I44. This carrier plate is provided with flanges M5 at opposite ends which slide into slots I46 on the inner sides of the frame members I until they engage stops I41. 7

On the underside the carrierplate is provided with shoulders I 48 near its-ends and on its upper side it is provided with a rectangular recess I49, in the bottom of which is a slot I50 which extends through its thickness. I

The moistening pad is shown at II and has opposite edges covered with doe skin or the like I52, the arrangement being such that the pad provides four working surfaces, one at each of theoppositesides of each edge. When one working surface is worn or otherwise ineffective, the pad can be turned over to bring the opposite side into operation, and when this second surface has become ineffective, the pad can be reversed to bring the oppositeedgeinto the working position, and this edge also provides two working surfaces.

The .pad I5I is mounted in a tray plate I53, this tray plate having a part I54 of channel section which engages over the edge of a carrier plate I44.

At its ends the tray plate is provided with flanges I55 which locate the moistening pad against endwise movement. Further, the tray plate is provided with. fourplate. springs I56 which hold the pad down firmly on to the tray portion of the plate.

These springs I 56 bear upon pieces of wire gauze I51 resting on the top of the moistening pad proper, and it will be observed that'the ends of the pieces of :gauze I-5-1 are spaced apart so that there is a gap I58 between them. I

The flange I59 of the channel section part of the tray plate is provided with downward depressions I69 formed by pressing the plate, and at the centre of its length the flange is notched asshownatIBI.

The main wick'I62 has the centre part of its length disposed in the slot I50 of the plate I 44 with the ends of the wick extending down through the inclinedparts I43 of the tubes I42 and thence into the tank I33.

Two shield plates I63 are placed over the wick I62 near its ends, these shield plates being placed in the recess I49 and resting on the shoulders at the bottom of the recess. There is a space between these two shield plates I63 as seen clearly in Figure '1.

Above the shield plates is placed the auxiliary wick I64. This wick may extend to the ends of the recess I45, or if preferred, its ends may be taken down through the tubes I42, I43 into the tank I39.

Above the auxiliary Wick I64 is a top plate -I65 having flange I66, this plate being attached to the carrier plate I44 by the screws I61.

- When this plate is in position, the tray plate I53 carrying the moistening-pad proper is slidden into position by pushing it forwardly, this plate sliding between the shoulders I48. The tray plate is provided with handles I68 to facilitate removal.

When the tray plate has been pushed home, the projections I66 engage in depressions I82 provided in the top plate I65.

In each of the parts I42 is provided a stationary block I69 and a moving block I10. Through each block I69 is a screw I1I, operable by a head I12. Ihe screw may have two threads, one at I 13 and the other at I14, engaging with themoving block I16, and these threads may be of opposite hand so that when the screw is turned, the block I16 is advanced or moved backwardly. The-block I16 can be advanced to exert pressure upon the end portions of the main wick I62 so as to regulate the flow of liquid therethrough. If the auxiliary wick I64 also has its ends extending down through the tubular parts I43, they also may be acted upon by the blocks I16. V

In operation the liquid is fed by capillary action up through the main wick and thence to the moistening pad, but the flow of liquid to the end portions of the moistening pad may be somewhat modified by the presence of the pieces of wire gauze I51.

If the ends of the auxiliary wick I64 are taken to the tank, further liquid is brought upwardly in this way and fed to the centre part only of the main wick. If, however, the auxiliary wick is, as shown in Figure '7, of a length equal to the length of the slot in the carrierv plate, it acts as a distributor tending to convey the moisture from the end portions of the main wick between the ends of the'shield plates I63 and the ends 'of the recesses in the carrier plate I 44 to the centre part of the main wick which tends to be starved of 'moisture.

During working, the underside of the forward edge'of the moistening pad is necessarily exposed so that the copy sheets may "make contact there; with, and it is a feature of the present invention to provide means for covering this exposed sur'- face when the machine is not inuse.

One method of doing this is'shown in Figures 8 and 9, wherein the tray plate I53 is modified by making it slightly deeper, and slidably mounted therein is a cover plate I15, this" cover plate being provided with handle portions I16 which are associated with parts I11 which slide through slots in the tray plate. The cover plate I 15 slides under the moistening'pad and between the moistening pad andthe tray plate. The cover plate, I15 can be drawn back by pulling on the handle I16 to expose the underside of the forward part ofthe moistening pad.

An alternative method of providing for cover ing the exposed part of the moistening pad is shown in Figures 5 and 6, wherein the feed table 38 is pivoted at I82 to a pair of angle section plates I18. The horizontal flanges of these angles slide in the slots I46 in the side frames of the machine. The feed table 38 is provided with lateral extensions I19 at opposite edges which also engage in the slots I46 so that when in this normal position as shown in Figure 5, the feed table cannot rock about the pivots I82. The feed table, however, can be pushed forwardly until the lateral projections I19 come into contact with slots I80 in the, side frames, permitting the feed table to rock into the position shown in Figure 6. c

The angle section plates to which the .feed table is pivoted can be locked in the slots in the side plates .by means of ascrew It.

What I claim thenisu 1. 'A moistening device for a duplicating machine of the kind described, comprising a tank for containing the moistening liquid, a support for a moistening pad; a moistening pad in said support, said moistening pad being of elongated strip-like form, a main wick extending along the pad and in contact with one side thereof, the said main wick having itsv end-portions disposed in the liquid inythe tank, an auxiliary wick extending along that part of the main wick which is in contact with the pad, said auxiliary wick and said pad contacting the main wick at opposite sides, and shield. plates disposed between the main; and auxiliary wicks, said shield plates being spaced apart along the length of the auxiliary wick so as to allow the auxiliary wick to contact the main wick at the centre and at the parts which contact the ends of the pad.

2. A moistening device according to claim 1,

having strips of perforated material interposed between the end portions of the pad and the adjacent surface ofcthe main wick. I

3. A moistening device according to claim 1, wherein the support for the moistening pad comprises a pair of spaced tubes secured to the tank and extending upwardly therefrom, a carrier plate, having an elongated slot, mounted on' the upper ends of the tubes, said tubes communicating with the tank and with the slot in the carrier plate, atray plate for holding the pad, and means for detachably mounting the tray plate on the carrier plate. i

4. A moistening device according to claim 1, wherein the support for the moistening pad comprises a pair ofspaced tubes secured to the tank and extending upwardly therefrom, a carrier plate, having an elongated slot, mounted on the upper ends of the tubes, said carrier plate being recessed at the top, the width of the recess being greater than the width of the slot, a tray plate forcholding the pad, said tray plate having one edge of channel form for pushing over one edge of the carrier, plate, plate springs on said tray and extending upwardly therefrom, a carrier plate, having an elongated slot, mounted on' the upper ends of the tubes, said carrier plate being recessed at the top,'the width of the recess being greater than the width of the slot, and a tray plate for holding the pad, s'aidtray plate having one edge of channel form for pushing over one edge of the, carrier plate, said tray plate and said carrier plate having registering projections and recesses for locating the tray plate on the carrier plate.

6. A moistening device according to claim 1, wherein the support for the moistening pad comprises a pair of spaced tubes, secured to the tank and extending upwardly therefrom, a carrier plate, having an elongated slot, mounted on the upper ends of the tubes, said tubes communicating With the tank and with the slot in the carrier plate, a tray plate for holding the pad,

a cover plate slidably mounted on said tray plate for covering the moistening pad when. the mav chine is out of use, and means, for detachably mounting the tray plate on the carrierplate.

'7. A moistening device according to claim 1, wherein the support for the moistening pad com-w prises a pair of spaced tubes secured to the tank and extending upwardly therefrom, a carrier plate, havingan elongated slot, mounted on the upper endsofthe tubes, said tubes communicating withthe tank and with the slot in the carrier plate, said tubes having lower portions extending across the top of the tank andupper portions disposed at an angle to the lower portions and extending upwardly, sliding blocks in said lower portions, means for advancing these blocks so as to press the wick against the walls of the tubes to regulate the flow of liquid, a tray plate for holding the pad, and means for detachably mounting the tray plate on the carrier plate.

8. A moistening device for a duplicating machine of' the kind described, comprising a tank for containing the moistening liquid, a moisten-V ing pad, a support for the moistening pad engaging its upper and lower sides and its edges but leaving a portion of its lower side exposed, and a wick having one end disposed in the liq-' uid in the tank, and the other end disposed in the said support and in contact with one side of said pad, said wick conveying the liquid to said pad.

9. A moistening device for a duplicating machine of the kind described, comprising a tank for containing the moistening liquid, a moistening pad, a support for the moistening pad engaging its upper and lower sides and its edges but leaving a portion of its lower side exposed, said support comprising an upper plate forming the bottom of the tank and having a dividing plate extending upwardly within the tank to a position near the top of the tank, said dividing plate dividing the tank into a liquid containing chamber and a wick housing, said upper plate having an opening extending through its thickness, and a recess in its lower side for accommodating one end of the wick, said opening placing said wick housing in communication with said recess, and a wick having one end disposed in' the liquid in the tank, said wick being looped over the top edge of said divding plate and having its other end projecting through said opening and into said recess to contact said pad.

FRANK RONALD FORD. 

